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OBA’s Official Contacts
Editorial: - It has been a quiet summer for OBA
and BiT since York Reunion last April. We, the
editors are glad putting BiT to you through email as the pictures are better as well as reducing the
postage cost. Only a few receive it by post.
This BiT has 25 pages. When Michael and Ron took over from Colin we were hoping to have at least
12 pages but now look forward to having another 20 pages for the next BiT. You members keep
sending us any articles, please. Thank you.
OBA wish to you all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
President, Colin Sayer Email: - [email protected] Vice President, Richard Willson Email: - [email protected]
OBA Chairman, Stuart Healy Email: - [email protected] OBA Secretary, Ronald Gibbins, 27 Mahon Close, Enfield, EN1 4DG
Email: - [email protected]
BiT Editors Michael Towler Email: - [email protected]
Ronald Gibbins Email: - [email protected]
Issue 33 – December 2013
Boars In Touch OBA Newsletter
Contents 2 Rowing Club, R Young-Scout
3 R Young-Scout (cont‟d)
4-5 Old Boys News
6 Myths about your Pension
Personal Profile – M Davis
7 Personal Profile – D Schofield
8 OBA Profiles in BiT Issues
9 A Missing Photograph 1977,
BPS‟s Opponents‟ Story, G Dobbs
10-18 The Boar Weekly and The Boars
in Touch and ......
18 School‟s Films
19 Old Burwoodian met again..,
J Gibbins
20-21 Obituary – J Clark
21-22 The Globus,
22-23 Psychic Stirrings At Deaf Boys‟
Boarding School.
23 You and the Burwood Archive
24-25 Grand Reunion at Bristol 2015,
Deposit Form
If you have any comments, queries or ideas for future issues, contact one of us above.
OBA Website Address: -
www.oldburwoodianassociation.co.uk
BiT is supported by The Burwood Foundation
under the auspices of the Ewing Foundation
Rowing Club
Mr. Watson had given up teaching some of us who were petty
hopeless with football and Mr. Byne had 'kindly' taken over, 'trying to make waves' being a new teacher at that time, taking us to a local River Thames Boating Club to learn more of
his somewhat favourite hobby, a rowing boat - slim boat type, not sure of its proper name.
I have had so much memory of us doing the wrong things, both intentionally and unintentionally as I remember us being Roy
Staines, Robert Fitzsimmons, Stuart Healy, Jonathan Bosman, myself and I think Douglas Richardson and a few others (I
cannot remember exactly who were there), we were all pretty hopeless rowing the boat at first and at one time some of the boys decided to have a go on rowing the boat with Mr. Byne, see photo, being the Cox at the rear of the boat, suddenly
after a few minutes, went over-eager in rowing as hard as they can 'for the hell of it', that is a 'boys thing' and the boat went off course, caught in water current and almost
went over the weir nearby, the sort that are man-made to level out the difference of water level. Poor Mr. Byne, being Cox, stood up on the boat and held on the weir timber post next to him with a warning sign (Danger) on it as his life depended on
it, with the boat rocking madly on the water. I remember poor Roy with his limited vision still rowing on and it was really funny to watch it. I and others were waiting for our turn at
that time, and unfortunately Mr. Byne succeed only after a good ten or fifteen minutes in taking the boat away from the river weir...this is something that sticks in my mind. I only wish I could have filmed the whole thing.
He called things off for the day after...and I don't blame him.
Another time Mr. Byne was so proud of the 'new' yacht type boat and he kept saying about
it over and over so we decided to ask him if we could come to have a look at his boat to see how grand his new boat is. We, a few of us, decided to cycle to the River with his instruction where to find it.
On arrival we found Mr. Byne had not arrived yet, we decided to look for his 'grandeur' boat on one of the river piers and decided the one looking really good must be his. We came on this boat and were very impressed for a good half an hour. When Mr. Byne finally
arrived he looked horrified, saying this is not his boat, but the one next to it. We came up to have a look and could not believe what we saw, a little boat somewhat slowly leaking
into the river. Mr. Byne said there was a 'little work' to be done to put it 'river worthy'. Not a chance in hell, is what we were thinking, but being polite said nothing. Off we cycled back to school.
L. Culver
Robert E Young – Scout
1959 – 1963 133rd Bristol (Newfoundland) Scout Group
1963 – 1968 1st Burwood Park Scout Group 1968 – 2013 133rd Bristol (Newfoundland) Scout Group
(Group member since 1959 and currently
Assistant Venture Scout Leader)
Our leaders and committee met on a number of occasions looking at
what could possibly be done come last March when we would be standing down.
Despite the parents being told in February 2012 that our group faced closure if the vacant positions could not be filled, with no easy
answer, by the latest February this year, the decision to close the
133rd Bristol (Newfoundland) Scout Group was reached with the full backing of both
District and Country. On behalf of the District Management Team, we make up the Team that support the
District GSL‟s in place of the usual single DC together with the District Executive, we thank everyone for the invitation to celebrate a unique Scout Group that has carried out much
needed good work since 1952. 61 years is more than a life time to some depending on your origins. I started with cubs in
1959. My first camp was at Uphill, Weston Super Mare, Somerset. In 1961 I moved to Scouts
between 1963 and 1968 I moved to 1st Burwood Park in Surrey and there I received my Queen‟s
Scout Award in 1967 with A Krishna, D Colville, C.Dyne.
I thought that I would like to come back to the 133rd Bristol (Newfoundland) Scout Group with
handicapped boys and in 1968 I returned. I felt that I want to help and have stayed ever
since being a leader in Scouts and Ventures. I feel that it is marvellous how the 133rd had gone
on for the 40 years more than since I returned but it was very sad it had to close down their group.
Integration of the disabled into a local Scout Group is encouraged, however is not always achievable and the 133rd Bristol (Newfoundland) Scout Group provides scouting to those
who for whatever reason are unable to attend their local Scout Group. The reasons are varied and include the accessibility of the local Scout HQ, for example: - Wheelchair inaccessible or the specialist
care required – one to one attention medical needs.
Disabilities of all kinds have been accommodated throughout the years including blind,
partially bifida, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, muscular
dystrophy, maladjusted, educationally sub-normal, delicate, speech defect, dual or
multiple disabilities. The only requirement is that we should
make the promise and understand the law.
I have been awarded by 133rd members the long service decoration for at least 15 years adult service to Scouting. The chief Scout commendation has been received by me in
1987.
The Scout‟s Association‟s Medal of Merit has been presented to me in 1995 and the bar to the long service decoration had been received by me in 1996.The bar to the Medal of Merit had been presented to me in 1996.
Although I felt very flattered, I am gloomy, too, but very proud of our history. It is a great
pity that circumstances are such that the decision to close this truly remarkable Group has been taken.
OLD BOYS NEWS
Wembley Trip – August 24th
Photo on the left: -
R Taylor, M.Towler, D.Richardson and A.Krishna.
They went to Wembley to watch the Rugby Cup Final.
Anyway they enjoyed a drink after
Wembley despite the downpour of rain!!
S.Wherry, M.Flower, D.Jones and A.Thomas joined them in the pub.
Class 61/62 Reunion
It was superb to get six Class 61/62 boys together once again at the weekend of September 27th/29th and the venue was at Southampton Quay. The Class 61/62 boys were Arun Krishna, Robert Fitzsimmons, Stuart Healy, Peter Mowat, Jonathan Bosman &
Geoffrey Eagling. We stayed at Premier Inn Hotel which was simple and it's providing nice bed &
breakfast! The hotel has nice view which you can see lots of cargos going to Europe & Far East!
On Friday we gathered at hotel to have a dinner and chatted updated details.
On Saturday we visited Tudor House & Garden and Town Walls (1492), then to SeaCity Museum to see the history of Titanic plus crew who lived in Southampton. A map
of Southampton on floor showed red pips on local area where over 560 dead crew lived. That was a major disaster impact on their community.
Then a wee bus ride to Solent Sky Museum, a story
about RJ Mitchell, designer of the legendary aircraft the Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire.
We got excited to go in 1948 Sunderland Flying Boat
because the interior inside 2 level decks of the seating area are lot better than
Jumbo. Then in the evening we went to Thai Restaurant
for meal.
Sunday: - Really Motor Museum had nothing to do with reunion. Robert said the weekend is finished so I planned to go on my own to Motor Museum at Beaulieu but Stuart wanted to join then Geoff & Arun joined too. So 4 of us had enjoyed the visit especially JB
007 cars etc before we went home later the day. Good time. Next Class Reunion will be at Greenwich in April 2014.
Arun: -It's my last 21st Class Reunion before I depart to Hong Kong on 23rd October! Some of my family have reached Hong Kong for our new life for 5 years due to my wife Nina's new job with JP Morgan!
Hope they continue gathering every year to show our Class reunion 61/62 strength to strength at all times!? I have enjoyed so much with Class Reunions.
All the best, Cheers A Krishna & P Mowat
OBA Mini Reunion in London
On November 23rd my friends, R.Gee and Kay Pell from Yorkshire and I met
P.Gardner, D.Dunlin, Jackie Harrison (P.Harrison‟s sister) at O‟Neill Pub, Kings Cross at 10.15am before meeting S.Wherry, A.Thomas, D.Jones, G.Sanders and a
friend M.Panter at Euston Flyer Pub, next door to O‟Neill Pub at 11am. Later we went to Wembley to watch the World Cup Rugby League Semi Final - Double Bill at
1pm [England v New Zealand] and 3 30pm. [Australia v Fiji]
After the match we returned to Euston Flyers Pub, Kings Cross to meet M Flower, P.Hobbs, M.Bentley C.Boswell, Roy and Christine Staines and a friend Joe Collins for
an evening socialise. It was a great evening and I hope to have some more
arrangements in the future in London or elsewhere. M.Flower and I think that the next gathering would be on Saturday 8th March 2014 from 5pm at the same venue
and will be open to OBA and friends. Further details will be in E-Boar/Facebook.
Thanks to A.Thomas for getting the Wembley tickets. Thanks to M.Flower for the venue and helping my suggestion to keep OBA Mini Reunion gathering in London to
meet old and new friends. M.Towler
Kevin Whalley
"It‟s wonderful to receive this award after 30 years of volunteering and it is particularly special because it is recognition for deaf golf. I look forward to the challenges that deaf golf
will bring in the future and to see the day when England Deaf Golf will be world champions.”
Kevin started organised Deaf golf in England in the early 1980s and has run more than 100 events over the years. He is currently President and Treasurer of the English Deaf Golf Association.
Kevin's efforts have just been in the UK however. He was the Secretary and Treasurer of the World Deaf Golf Federation and organised the first World Deaf Golf Championship in
1995 at the Forest of Arden. This tournament has gone from strength to strength and will next be held in 2014 in Michigan, USA .
Philip Gerrard, UKDS Chair, commented: "We are delighted and proud that Kevin has been
recognised for his many years of dedication. We are especially pleased that his efforts have been acknowledged by a high profile and mainstream organisation, the English Golf Partnership. Our warmest congratulations to Kevin".
UK Deaf Sport Treasurer Kevin Whalley was recently presented
with a Lifetime Achievement Award for services to golf from the English Golf Partnership, marking 30 years of service to Deaf golf. The England Golf Partnership is a partnership between the
amateur governing body, England Golf, and the Professional Golfers‟ Association, which works to grow the game with the
support of the Golf Foundation and Sport England. Kevin, who is pictured with his award at the ceremony held at
Loughborough University, said
Robert Young’s guide to myths about your Pension
1. It‟s not worth saving into a pension. 2. My house will be my pension pot.
3. My wife will be my pension pot or I‟ll inherit money from my parents. 4. If I save in an ISA I would not need a pension. 5. I can only pay in small amount so it isn‟t worth it.
6. I‟ll save when I get old or I‟m too old to start saving. 7. If my company shuts down I lose everything.
8. My grandma only lived to be 70/80 so surely I won‟t live much longer why bother saving?
9. State pension will be enough.
10. I shouldn‟t bother investing when I will lose all my money in charges
Personal Profile Mr Mark Davis – 1972-77
What are you doing now? I am currently
unemployed and have been four years. I am with the Wirral Autistic Society. In 2012 I attended a programme in
step into work plus with Wirral Autistic Society at the Enterprise Centre, Wirral. I am a full-time student at Ellesmere Port Campus, West Cheshire College, BTEC
Diploma I.T. Level 2. I am a Virtual Volunteer for Action on Hearing Loss Cymru.
Any plans for the future? I have applied for a Volunteer Vacancy for DATA Assistant Secretary in Liverpool.
Do you have particular memories of the school and life there? Yes I was a prefect, Venture Scout and also a
Chess Captain. I was a defender for Ewing Football Team and Burwood Park School. I scored only
one goal and it was from a corner.
Are you coming to the Grand reunion in 2015? No, because it is very expensive.
Do you have any old photographs that were taken at BPS/NH? Yes, I keep them in my flat.
PS. Mark, could you possibly send me some school photos so it can go to Colin Sayer who is always
interested in any school photos and other things. I would, of course, send them back after scanning them. (Editors)
Who are the Old Burwoodians that you are seeing
regularly? I only email to Simon Fisher and Paul McCusker. I hope to meet Simon soon in the near future.
Personal Profile
Mr David Schofield – 1955-57
What are you doing now? I am 73
years old. I have been married for over 45 years and have 2 sons, Paul and Simon. Paul owns a café and Simon
works for a big company.
Any plans for the future? I am
settling down by seeing a lot of Deaf friends in Sheffield, Mansfield, Derby and Chesterfield. I am still chairman of
Chesterfield Deaf Club and have been for more than 20 years.
Any family news? Holidays recently? Recently my wife and I went on a cruise to Rome with Deaf World. I did not like it
at all because there were so many deaf people around on the cruise but they
were nice people. Do you have any questions you would like to ask? I have nothing to say because
you all have done very well and keep in touch with us. Well done and thank you.
Do you have particular memories of the school and life there? Oh yes, I still have
lots of fun memories of the school and boys and am still talking about our times at school as well with the teachers.
Any interesting stories to relate? In the last days of the school closing for good, there was someone talking about the abused with bullying from the teachers which makes me fuming as this reminded me of my old school in Derby.
Are you coming to the Grand reunion in 2015? Yes, we are more then comfortable with OBA boys who are very good friends and very easy
to talk to.
Do you have any old photographs that were taken at BPS/NH? No, there are no photos of me in our home but I can find out who have some then I can ask for a copy and
of course I will pay.
Are there any Old
Burwoodians that you have missed seeing since the school days?
There were some missed but I can make my own
inquires that should be no problem.
Who are the Old Burwoodians that you are seeing regularly?
I see Danny Northey quite a lot at the Blackpool
Grand Bingo and also some at Nottingham.
OBA Profiles in BiT Issues.
No’s OBA Profiles OBA Profiles 1 (009B) David Kettle
(109B) Herbert Klein (193B) James Cameron (294BN) Ramon Woolfe
2 (006B) Patrick Chapman (113B) Peter Brown
(198BN) Conrad Keil
3 (004B) Hamish Rosie (051B) David Morris
(200B) John Jenner (297BN) John Mancini
4 (007B) Anthony Bishop (098B) Gerald Dixey
(189BN) Andrew Plaster (269B) Glyn Sanders
5 (014B) David Schofield (107B) Michael Freund
(178BN) Charles Turrell (333B) Mark Culver
6 (019B) Alec Cranwell (100B) Ian Cooke
(212BN) Craig Rayment
7 (001S) Colin G Sayer (011B) Richard Joslin
(110B) Jeffrey Woolcock
8 (028B) John Gibbins (036B) Derek Pritchard (038B) Alan Cook
(215BN) Edward Tan (256BN) David Jones
9 (071B) Roy Staines (109B) Herbert Klein (update)
(131BN) Andrew Scolding (254B) Clive Boswell
10 (077B) Geoffrey Eagling (247B) Richard Weinbaum
(255BN) Mark Flower
11 (033B) Peter Jackson (232BN) David Longworth
12 (024B) Malcolm Haywood (069B) Kevin Sparrow
(075B) Peter Mowat & (360B) Katie Mowat
13 (006S) John H Clark (025B) Kenneth Wheatley
(099B) Mark Heaton
14 (042B) Richard Newnham (078B) Ronald Gibbins
(129BN) Martin Bogard (410B) Mark Gill
16 (057B) Roger Foreman (126B) Bryan Whalley
18 (147B) Matthew Jackson (222BN) Leslie Banks
19 (051B) David Lewis (303BN) Sumit Sudra
22 (168BN) Paul McCusker (326B) Julian Peedle-Callo
32 (039B) Richard Willson
Editors would like to have your profile for the BiT.
Thank you.
A Missing Photograph -1977
Recently Miss Coombes sent me a number of School Year Photographs – and this
was one of them. I rapidly realised that I had not seen it before and it is the one photo missing (before Mr Kell‟s time) from the Burwood Photograph book produced
by the BDHS. It is not a very good copy – but we cannot complain as it seems to be the only one!
Back Row R.Graty, G.Sinclair, J.Everett, E.Clarke
2nd Row Mr Lucas, Mr Pearson, Mr McKenzie, Mr Sayer, Mr D.Thomas, M.Davies, N.Warnock, P.McCusker, P.Craddock, C.Turrell, J.Doig, Mr Grave, Mr Wilson,
Mr Green, Mr Cox
3rd Row Miss Godfrey, P.Hoare, P.Johnson, G.Punter, M.Sinclair, I.Duncan, R.Oaten,
P.Myers, N.Clarke
4th Row J.Jenner , D.Humphreys, A.Brown, A.Thomas, J.Archbold, C.Hurren, A. Plaster, S.Mullins, S.Hart, S.Johnson, Miss Coombes
Front Row M.Hart, S.Malhotra, S.Pickering, A.McKee, S.Sharma, B.McGrath, T.Spurgeon, C.Kiel, A.Thomson, G.Quinn, R.Kelly
C.S.
Burwood Park’s Opponents’ Story
We have a taxi firm in Addlestone and the driver, who took me to Heathrow, had been the
Chess Captain at Halliford School and clearly remembered playing matches against Burwood and today I have spoken to the boss and he was at Rydens and they played badminton against Burwood: he said that it was embarrassing because the Burwood boys
were so much better than they were and “knocked us all over the court”. C.S
G Dobbs
George Dobbs sounds fine and says that any Old Burwoodian who would like to visit him for a cup of tea would be very welcome. His home address is 17 Waverley Road, Stoke D‟Abernon, Oxshott, Surrey KT11 2SS. Contact him first.
C.S
The Boar Weekly and the Boars in Touch and …
You could say that, since the school closed, the Boar Weekly has morphed into the Boars in
Touch.
So where and when did it all begin? Stephenson classroom and Mr Sayer and Mr Grave's
room in 1960. Although it might be more accurate to say, “In Mr Wood's office.”
I thought it would be a good idea for the school to have a weekly newspaper and went to ask
Mr Wood if Form 2 and I could use an English lesson once a week to start one up. He agreed with
the idea. I seem to remember that we began on Saturday mornings (Yes! We did have lessons on
Saturday mornings, with Wednesday afternoons free time …)
Roger Foreman was the first Editor (and for the first 18 months, in fact) and the reporters
were the rest of Form 2. (See below)
At first the boys wrote the articles while I typed them out in the room that Mr Grave and I
shared on the top floor of the school. But soon the boys did all the typing and it became the boys'
newspaper entirely, as I had intended, no longer in an English lesson, but all done in
free time.
We typed onto a stencil which was a waxed sheet with a strong paper backing.
The typewriter actually typed right through the waxed paper which was then wrapped
round the circular drum of the Roneo duplicator. The drum had sticky ink squeezed
into it from a tube like a big toothpaste tube. The paper backing was removed and
when you turned the handle the ink was squeezed out through the waxed paper onto
the blank pages which rolled under the drum, one after the other, as you turned the
handle.
And you could then read what you had typed, although sometimes it was
rather smudged.
Over the years the boys shared the duplicator with the school Secretary, with the Secretary
using it in school time and the boys using it in the evenings and on Saturday morning. Sometimes
the Secretary would complain to me that “the boys left it in a mess” and sometimes the Editor would
complain to me that “the Secretary left it in a mess”. I had to make the peace each time!
The printing was first done in the Secretary‟s office at the top of the stairs by the dining
room. Then on typewriters in the room next to the new Secretary‟s office in the courtyard, beside
the Headmaster‟s office. The room was also used by the Printing Club and the Adana printing
machine was there. Then the room on the left, just before the dining room (which had once been Mr
Watson‟s school shop, I think}, which had been equipped with BBC computers and finally in the
large room on the right on the way to the dining room, which had been the Changing Room and the
Prefects Room. That had become the Computer Room and had the electronic duplicator.
The first appeared on 17 September 1960, and it had a very special piece of news: “Miss Holmes
and Mr Sayer are engaged to be married in December.” We had kept quiet at school especially for it
to appear in the first edition. And we also had the announcement of the birth of Elizabeth Faragher.
The Boar Weekly did not miss a single week of school term time until 1986, when I announced that
it would cease. (On one occasion the duplicator broke down so I took the stencils to St George's
College and they let me produce that week's edition on their duplicator.)
The B.W. lived through history- it started with a typewriter, wax stencils and a
duplicator worked by turning a handle. ( Oh, yes !! One Saturday morning the
handle broke. I went to tell Mr Wood and he was very cross, so, after lunch I
went to see if I could do anything to make things better. When the engineer
came to repair the machine he told me that there were two things wrong. The
handle had broken, which it was designed to do if the pressure was too
great – and that was always replaced free of charge. But there were
other things wrong which were expensive to repair. (That was caused by me trying to make things
better.) I did NOT tell Mr Wood!
Schoolboy scoops....J Jenner (centre) and his team on “Boar Weekly”
With No 79 we used the new Heading, created for us by Mr Culver (see
below) – a great improvement, which was a metal plate which printed the
headed sheets on the Adana printing machine.
When John Jenner was
Editor there were articles
in the Daily Express and
the Sunday Times in
1980?
Then came the electric duplicator – much easier, no handle to turn.
Then came the computer for typing and easy correcting and a printer connected to the computers..
The Printer on the left is connected directly
to all the computers.
And finally the electronic duplicator.
But it was also the advance of technology that killed off the Boar Weekly – subtitles …. and Dallas. Finally only two boys were prepared to work on the Boar Weekly on Friday
evenings: they all wanted to watch television and when Richard Weinbaum left there was just Darren Harper. There was too much work for just one boy to produce a reasonable
weekly newspaper, so I had to call a halt.
There had been 967 issues by the time it closed.
But then, on the 17th November 1989 the first edition of the New Boar Weekly appeared, under the auspices of Mr Young, with Ramon Woolfe as Editor and Henry Skinner, Simon Terry, Mark Watkins and Tyron Woolfe as Assistant Editors.
BOAR WEEKLY STRIKES BACK ! ! !
There were 69 editions of the New Boar Weekly, the last one appearing when the School
closed, with Katie Mowat as Editor
So the school closed and the Boar Weekly had finished, having had a life of 36 years.
When the School closed Richard Willson decided to bring the Old Burwoodian Association
back to vigorous life and had a meeting at his house – himself, Geoffrey Eagling and me. As a major part of this decision we agreed that a new magazine should be started up to make a focal point for OBs to be able to keep in touch and know what the Association was
planning – but we could not think of a name for it. I came home and told Sylvia – and she said, straight away, “Boars in Touch” – and so it is.
Early on Geoffrey Queen and Richard Willson had been contacting OB‟s by fax and minicom
to arrange gatherings. But in 1964 the Old Boys Association produced its first newsletter, the Old Burwoodian. We do not know how many issues there were, as there are now only 5 known copies, unfortunately. No.1 is in the Archive, but I do not seem tp have a copy
here. Eventually it stopped appearing.
The first Boars in Touch appeared in October 1997, a year after the school closed, with
Richard Willson as Editor – and this is No. 33. Richard produced the first 15 editions,and the special Woking Reunion edition, then Katie Mowat was Editor until No 20 and I produced Nos 21 to 31. Now Michael Towler and Ron Gibbins are the Editors until the
Bristol Reunion. And once again, technology has mover on, so No. 32 was the first E- BiT, sent by internet to all of us except those, like me, who still live in the 20th century.
So the Boars in Touch is continuing a very long tradition – and going strong.
October 1997
But perhaps we should have started at the very beginning? It was a term magazine, not
weekly, but it first appeared in .........
The Editors to No. 863
Final Boar Weekly Editors and Assistants
No. Editor Assistant Editors 864 N Sturley M Wheatley, R Weinbaum 865 R Weinbaum J Kelberman, P Andrews ---- 884. R Parker 900 G Sanders D Ellington ----- 923 J Brownlie D Jones ----- 925
C Boswell ----- 920 932 J Brownlie J Mancini ----- 947 M Reid, A Evans, P Rotton, R Weinbaum
955 R Weinbaum Form 2 D Harper ----- 967 967 FINISHED
We do not have a record of the New Boar Weekly Editors and Assistants. Perhaps someone would like to compile one?
So this story started in 1955 and is continuing, as you read this, some 58 years later. C.Sayer
The Boar Editors.
Year Editor Assistant Editor 1959 Colin Palmer Robert Hartley
1960 Peter Jackson Robert Harley 1961 Robert Hartley Peter Jackson 1962 Robert Hartley James Sutherland
1963 Roy Staines 1964 Roy Staines
1965 Roy Staines 1966 Roy Staines A.Krishna and Ian Townsley 1967 A.Krishna and Ian Townsley
1968 David Bullock and Jamie Billam 1969 David Bullock and Jamie Billam
1970 Michael Chawner 1971 Paddy Chee Philip Green 1972 Paddy Chee Paul Wrighton
1973 Paddy Chee and Paul Wrighton 1974 Paul Wrighton Paul Davis
1975 Paul Davis Martin Blake
Just a pile of Boars? No …
Stephen Catt found these copies of the Boar (1959 to 1975 complete) on a Reference shelf in the Library after the school had closed. So these Boars are the
ones many of you used in the School Library: - historic!
C.S.
School's Films
I have had the idea to ask some members to help our school and its history by updating the school's films. They need to be done as soon as possible.
There are some old school films, both colour and one black and white and can any of the members do some kind of work to script them with subtitles?
Are any of you be able to do them made on DVD’s but only if you want to? And you can
work on them in your free-time.
The speech is not easy to follow from these old school films but you can ask your a member of your family or hearing friend to try to help you with them? (Though all the really old ones have no sound, apart from “A Day in the Life of the School” - where Michael
Chawners commentary is very clear – and the BBC film, also very clear.)
If the school's films are updated well they should be popular for the school and the deaf
community and will be far more valuable and interesting parts of the Archive. S.Fisher
This seems to me to be an excellent idea. I would be very happy to provide anyone with a
commentary for the silent films – though some of you from the 1950s could produce much more interesting information about the earliest films.
I really hope some of you will offer to do the subtitling … Of course we can provide you with the school films on disc for you to use. C.S.
R Willson
John Gibbins (028B)
We regret that John Gibbins (1955-60) passed away on 2nd October 2013. Colyn Walden went to the funeral and said there was a few OBs attending the funeral –
Michael Long, Derek Pritchard and Darren Pritchard.
Obituary: - John Clark died in 2012. Mark Davies and many people attended his funeral
at St Mary Church, Mold. It is very sad as John was outstanding and active for North Wales
Deaf Church along with his wife, Jill. Mark still visit Deaf Church in Mold every Wednesday with hearing and deaf people.
Mark Davies
Obituary : - Mr Clark
We printed Mr Clark's life story last year, after we heard that he had died, but not an article remembering him, which we are
happy to do now.
I did not know him at Burwood because he taught there from 1955 to 1957 and I arrived in 1959. He then went on to teach at Nutfield Priory for 15 years. In fact Sylvia met him there
when she went to visit the school with Andrew Taylor's mother. You can read his full life story in the BiT 32, his
profile in BiT 13 and his Burwood Memories in Nos 18, 20 and 21.
At Burwood one subject he taught was French which was then stopped by the Governors. There is correspondence between him and the Governors in the Archive. Selected excerpts
below: - Burwood Park School,
Walton-on-Thames,
Surrey.
14 July 1957.
Dear Professor and Mrs Ewing,
When Lady Patricia and Mr Norfolk met the staff here last month, we took the
opportunity of discussing with them the decision to drop French from the curriculum.
… the response over the past two years has been so good, and some of the boys have
shown such remarkable ability, that it does seem a great pity that it should have to
disappear completely.
We are particularly interested in the case of Graham Harding, whose French, so far as
we have gone, has been almost faultless from the beginning.
The broadening aspect is of course obvious. I am sure that learning French has given
many of these boys an awareness they would perhaps never otherwise have had of the
existence of a people with language and customs different from their own. Some of
them are looking forward to holidays in France. I hear that in the train on the way
back from Littlehampton yesterday John Gibbins was getting on very well in French
with a little girl he had met on their Sunday School outing!
It does seem that the greatest value lies perhaps in the sense of normal achievement they can get from being able to say, 'I am learning French.'
………………………
We are very pleased to hear that you will be coming to spend some time with us,
and look forward to the opportunity of discussing our work with you. I know that
French is a minor question, and time so precious, but I should be very grateful to
know your views.
The rest of the staff join me in sending you our best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed)
J. H. Clark.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE DEAF
THE UNIVERSITY - MANCHESTER 13
Telephone ' ARDwick 3333 * Extension 134
IRE/SLC 19th July, 1957.
Dear Mr. Clark,
Many thanks for writing so frankly and fully to tell us about your views in
relation to the study of French by the boys at Burwood Park. My husband is at
present busy with all the end of session reports and the running of a course, for
thirty teachers of the deaf, in audiology. He and I want time to re-consider the
whole question about French as a suitable subject for the pupils at Burwood Park. We
certainly do not want to discourage you and the other masters who have convictions
about this. We should also like to discuss the matter again with Lady Patricia and
Mr. Norfolk, and so may we leave the matter for the moment with our promise to give
serious consideration to all that you say in your letter.
With best wishes to all members of the staff and hopes that you may have a very
pleasant vacation.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) Irene R. Ewing.
Roughly 10 years ago we visited Mr and Mrs Clark for the day at
Mold in North Wales. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left we felt completely at home. We felt as if we had
known them for years – and didn't stop talking all the time. An entirely enjoyable day and we played boules, too. →
The interview I recorded then is in the Boars in Touch Nos 18, 20 and 21.
Mr Clarke was a really delightful and thoughtful gentleman whom it
was a privilege to know. C.S.
The Globus
The first planetarium in the world.
Did you go to Schleswig to visit the German school ? If you did you probably remember the long ship in the museum, which was next to Schloss (Castle) Gottorf.
In 1616 a book was printed in Strasburg describing a sphere 3 metres in
diameter, with the known Earth painted on the outside and the star constellations painted on the inside. In 1651 Count Friedrich lll of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf decided to build this 'Globus' in the gardens
of Schloss Gottorf, It had a door and 10 people could sit inside and watch the night sky moving over their heads,
powered by a watermill. It was a marvel of the technology of those times.
But in 1713 Peter the Great of Russia saw it and said that he would like to have it !! So it was
given to him and took about 4 years to be transported to St Petersburg, where it is now ( but stationary, not moving )
A few years ago it was decided to build a replica of the Globus in
the gardens of Schloss Gottorf, where it had been before, and Mr and Mrs Ramcke took me to see it: it is amazing ! There is plenty
of room for 10 people to sit on the round bench inside the sphere !
I think you see the night sky of whatever day you are there, because modern technology
has added an 'advance' system which moves the mechanism (now powered by electricity ) one day further on.
C.Sayer
PSYCHIC STIRRINGS AT DEAF BOYS’ BOARDING SCHOOL
Such was the headline in a 1955 edition of the Weybridge Gazette as it sought to publicise a recent event at the prestigious Burwood Park School, Walton-on Thames. It relayed an
account given in interview, unbeknown to the then- Headmaster, a Mr.W.E.Wood, by the member of staff who had borne the brunt of the “extra-terrestrial” intrusion.
The teacher concerned, (and, for legal reasons, we cannot name him in this article),
confessed that he was in the habit, at the close of the teaching day, of reclining on his bed in his private room within the school. He made the point that, since his responsibility in the school curriculum was a good deal more physically draining than for his fellow staff-
members, he regularly seized the opportunity, in the interval prior to the evening meal, to indulge in, as he judged it, well-deserved, well-earned relaxation, frequently dropping off
to sleep in the process.
“It was then that it happened. It was last Friday”, he told our reporter. “I just couldn‟t believe it. It was coming from the top drawer in my dressing table”.
“It?” queried his interviewer. “What exactly was „IT‟?”
“Don‟t ask me”, blurted the still-shaken teacher. “I can still hear it ringing in my head. It
was like something rolling about in the empty drawer, yes, rolling about of its own accord. My first dread was, „poltergeists‟. Do they get into drawers? Has one set up home in MY drawer? I just couldn‟t handle it”.
“So”, queried our intrigued reporter, “what did you find when you opened the drawer?”
“Opened the drawer?” stammered the teacher, trembling visibly as he confronted the
apparent insouciance of the reporter. “Opened the drawer? That was the very last thing I‟d have done, and so would you if you‟d been in my shoes. (Well, actually, I‟d taken my
shoes off, you understand. Brand new bedding and all that.) No, I leapt off the bed and made a dash for the door like greased lightning”
“And you dared to return?”
“Yes, oh yes, but taking a colleague with me for support ……….and witness”
“And?”
“Nothing! Absolutely nothing! There were no noises and ………the drawer was completely EMPTY!”
“And what on earth was the sequel when you reported the occurrence to the Head and your colleagues?” continued the journalist.
“Humph! „Take more water with it, they said.‟ They all thought I‟d been hallucinating. I
didn‟t say anything at the time but, you know, there HAVE been funny goings-on in this school, weird events, eerie occurrences. It was only last month, on 24th October, that
some of the younger pupils swore they‟d seen a ghost hovering outside their dormitory
window. Nobody took them seriously at the time of course, but now ……..I just don‟t know. You hear queer tales about these old buildings, don‟t you? One thing; I‟ve given up my afternoon nap! D‟you blame me?”
……………………………………………………………………………………..
AND, TODAY…..?
Twenty-first century readers of BiT will, I‟m certain, welcome the true facts behind that
1955 report.
THE EXPLANATION
It‟s only now, dear readers, 58 years on, that the truth can be laid bare!
Whilst it‟s now common knowledge that in those heady first months at the newly-opened
Burwood Park School, staff-members would get up to after-dark pranks, ( the best-known, of course, being the sequence of 24th October „Ghost Nights‟), it‟s not, until now, been
admitted that staff actually played tricks ON EACH OTHER!
So, what DID happen in the mysterious “Noises in the Drawer” incident, reported by the local paper as “Psychic Stirrings”?
Here goes!
Two fellow-teachers decided to play the trick on their colleague who regularly, post teaching, stretched out on his bed for a snooze. Seizing the opportunity when the “victim”
was absent from his room, a handful of screws was place in the, temporarily removed, empty dressing-table drawer. These were then tape=recorded whilst being rolled to and fro. The screws were removed and the empty drawer was replaced. The perpetrators then
secreted a small speaker on the floor behind the dressing-table. Wires from the speaker were taken through a narrow gap in the bedroom window casement and into an adjacent
bedroom where they were plugged into the extension-loudspeaker socket of the (“criminally-used”) tape-recorder.
All that then remained to be done was to await the arrival of the “victim”, give him a suitable interval in which to recline and doze off, press the “play” button and…………………..
await the predicted hysterical response! Their guile was amply rewarded. It worked like a charm!
Happy days! Alan Huntington
You and the Burwood Archive
We were talking with an OB recently and I suddenly realised that if any (many ?) of you would write, as a deaf person, a description of „ A life lived in the 20th and 21st Centuries‟ these historical descriptions would be a really brilliant addition to the Burwood Archive.
True historical snapshots for later generations to read with great interest.
I am not suggesting that any such contributions should be edited, altered or published:
I see them going straight into the Archive, just as you write them.
I was not really thinking of life at school (though this could be included) but more “The Life I have lived in the Hearing World in the 20th and 21st Centuries”.
Maybe “what I have managed to do, enjoyed doing – problems encountered ( and overcome ? or not)” and so on – in fact whatever you think would be interesting.
You could send it to me at [email protected]. (zero not capital O.)
I repeat, any articles offered would simply go straight into the Burwood Archive, probably
both as computer text and in printed form. It would not be used in the BiT or be in any way published, unless you would like it to .
I do hope many of you do contribute. C.S.
OBA GRAND REUNION 2015
We are thrilled that Old Burwoodian Association have booked a place for our OBA Grand Reunion 2015 on September 18th/20th 2015. It will be all in one place which is a weekend stay at the Hotel. The name of Hotel is Thistle Bristol City Centre, The Grand, Broad
Street, Bristol BS1 2EL. It is about 20 minutes walk from Bristol Temple Mead Railway Station. The Reunion Dinner will be held in Wessex Suite which have a capacity of up to 250 diners and have two bars, one inside the suite and one outside the suite.
As agreed with the Committees, the ticket for the Reunion Dinner will be £45 per
person, up to two tickets per member. It will be a first come first served basis. You must be an existing member of OBA, so hurry! There will guests of honour and a presentation
for this OBA Grand Reunion 2015. For those travelling to the hotel by car
there is parking available both on-site and at the nearby NCP car park. On-site car parking is chargeable for overnight stay at £8 per night
until 12pm the following day. Please be advised there is a height restriction at the hotel car park
of 1.9m.
ACCOMODATION AT THE GRAND HOTEL
The hotel has 182 bedrooms with en-suite. All prices below including Breakfast. 2 nights Stay - £89 per room per night for single, £99 per room per night for double.
1 night Stay - £95 per room per night for single, £109 per room per night for double.
Two Tickets and 2 nights (Double/Twin) £288 One ticket and 2 nights (Single) £223
Two Tickets and 1 night (Double/Twin) £199 One Ticket and 1 night (Single) £140
I have attached a standing order mandate form. I am sure it will help you to spread out your expenditure in the long term. I have estimated the costs for everyone so that you have a rough idea and hopefully this will meet with your requirements. There will be
number of payments in total, up to or before June 30th 2015.
Instalments up to or before June 30th 2015
@ £15 per month or your choice
At the end of June 2015 we will know the exact cost for the ticket and room at the
hotel, and we will inform you whether the total amount is in surplus or not. The difference of the amount will be refunded or adjusted to meet the right amount.
Should you wish not to have a Standing Order, you are welcome to put down a
deposit and pay the full amount before June 30th 2015. We will need a deposit for ticket of £20 per person or a deposit for accommodation and ticket of £50 per person if
desired. We will refund the full amount should you wish to cancel providing it is before June 30th 2015.
Deposit required. (Payable to OBA Grand Reunion)
Accommodation and Ticket £50 per person (two tickets per member)
Ticket only £20 per person (two tickets per member)
IMPORTANT: - In the Standing Order mandate form, your bank account details are required, along with your signature and date. The form is to be handed in or posted to your bank, not to me. And to remind you the last installments should
end by June 30th 2015, so you should inform your bank. It could be before if we
give you the details about the total cost.
Robert Taylor and Ron Gibbins
DEPOSIT FORM – BRISTOL GRAND REUNION - Sept 18th/20th 2015 Member with partner/friend
Accommodation and Ticket - £50 per person (two tickets per member) Ticket only - £20 per person (two tickets per member)
Please reserve ______ “Bristol Grand Reunion 2015” ticket(s).
Please reserve a (single/ twin / double) room at hotel for _____ night(s).
Name….……………………………………………………..Partner / friend ……………………………………...............
Address………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….Postcode….……………………………….
SMS…………..………………………………………………………Email……………………………………………………………..
I enclose a cheque for the amount indicated above, payable to OBA’s GRAND REUNION.
Form and cheque should be forwarded to R.Gibbins 27 Mahon Close, Enfield, EN1 4DG.
Please feel free to ask any questions, I will be happy to help. Thank You. Ron Gibbins ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
